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Media

Announcement Part of Multi-City and Multi-Country Council Visit Within Asia

China Second Largest Market in the World for LEED Green Building Activity

Beijing — (June 9, 2014) — Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that 29 of China’s 34 provinces are home to LEED-certified projects, according to its new report LEED in Motion: Greater China, a full showcaseof all LEED activity in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. To date, Greater China is home to 1,961 LEED-registered and -certified projects, totaling 111 million gross square meters of construction space. Mainland China was also announced as the second largest market in the world for LEED green building activity. Mainland China boasts projects that have pursued both LEED certification along with China Green Building Label or Three Star Rating.

“The market for green building in Greater China has seen extraordinary growth since its first LEED project earned certification in 2005,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, chief operating officer, USGBC, and president, Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). “As the momentum overseas continues in the green building industry, USGBC aims to transform the global built environment. Green buildings provide healthier indoor environments, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and save money for project owners through reduced energy and water use. At the end of the day, we want the best, safest and healthiest buildings on the planet. Dual certification helps us achieve this goal.”

The announcements were made at the beginning of a multi-city, multi-country visit to Asia by senior USGBC leadership. Over the next few weeks, USGBC executives will be in Beijing and Shenzhen in mainland China, as well as Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. This trip will be followed by a multi-city visit to India.

USGBC also announced it would waive all LEED certification fees for the first three projects in mainland China that earn LEED v4 Platinum certification, the highest tier of achievement under the LEED green building rating system. This campaign is applied to one project per province for the first three out of mainland China’s 34 provinces. To date, mainland China is home to Haworth Showroom, the first project worldwide to certify under LEED v4, earning LEED Gold in 2013.

This campaign is a component of USGBC’s LEED Earth promotion, which offers complimentary LEED certification to pioneering LEED projects around the world. LEED is the world’s premier green building rating system, and LEED v4 is the latest and most rigorous version. The campaign is designed to incentivize current and future LEED professionals to continue their longstanding leadership when it comes to the world’s oldest and most reliable green building rating system.

To date, LEED projects in 15 nations, including Venezuela and Kuwait, have earned free certification under the LEED Earth program.

The report, LEED in Motion: Greater China builds on the popular LEED in Motion report series launched in 2013. Other LEED in Motion reports include Sweden, India and Canada. The reports equip readers with the insight and perspective they need to understand the use of the globally recognized LEED rating system. LEED in Motion: China is available in both English and Chinese and can be downloaded at go.usgbc.org/china.

The report highlights how the global rating system works in Greater China through profiles of green buildings and project teams, as well as building owner testimonials. It also shows how LEED credits and strategies push the limits of convention for maximum outcomes, and it features a foreword from the chairman of SOHO, one of the largest real estate developers in China.

USGBC is working to ensure the flexibility of LEED for all markets and climates through the development of alternative compliance paths and regional priority credits, which help tailor LEED to the specific local regions, challenges and environments. Currently, there are LEED-registered and certified projects in more than 150 countries and territories. Every day 160,000 square meters of construction space earns LEED certification.

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system is the world's foremost program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. Every day, 160,000 square meters of space is certified using LEED. LEED seeks to optimize the use of natural resources, promote regenerative and restorative strategies, maximize the positive and minimize the negative environmental and human health consequences of the construction industry, and provide high-quality indoor environments for building occupants. LEED certification demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to immediately improve both building performance and the bottom line. Learn more at usgbc.org/leed.